Gaspar de Lemos arrived in Guanabara Bay on January 1st, 1502. The French led by Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon settled in one of its islands and built the fort dedicated to Admiral Gaspard de Coligny. They had planned to install a French Antarctica, but were defeated by the Portuguese in 1567. The painting “Brazilian ball for Henry II and Catherine de Medici in Rouen 1 October 1550” has a particular significance, as a precursor to the creation of the France Antarctique in Brazil. The “beautiful city” was created by Estácio de Sá at that time. It became the capital of the Colony in 1763.

Brazilian ball for Henry II and Catherine de Medici in Rouen 1 October 1550

Johann Moritz Rugendus (1802-1858)- 'view of Rio de Janeiro from the church of the monastery of Saint Benedictus'-ca 1820